DinnerCountBeef Tacos
Taco night is the dinner where everyone builds their own, so nobody argues about the toppings. The beef cooks in one skillet with taco seasoning while the refried beans warm in a small pot and the shells crisp in the oven. Set out the lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, and sour cream, and let everyone help themselves.
Ingredients (serves 4)
- Ground beef1 lb
- Taco seasoning packet1 packet (1 oz)
- Hard taco shells8 shells
- Shredded cheese (Mexican blend)1 cup
- Lettuce¼ head
- Tomato½ each
- Sour cream¼ cup
- Salsa¼ cup
- Refried beans (canned)about ½ of a 16 oz can
How Much to Make for 2, 4, 6, or 8
For 2 people, you’ll need ½ lb ground beef, 4 hard taco shells, and ½ cup shredded cheese.
For 4 people, you’ll need 1 lb ground beef, 8 hard taco shells, and 1 cup shredded cheese.
For 6 people, you’ll need 1½ lb ground beef, 12 hard taco shells, and 1½ cups shredded cheese.
For 8 people, you’ll need 2 lb ground beef, 16 hard taco shells, and 2 cups shredded cheese.
| Ingredient | For 2 | For 4 | For 6 | For 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef | ½ lb | 1 lb | 1½ lb | 2 lb |
| Taco seasoning packet | about ½ of a 1 oz packet | 1 packet (1 oz) | 1½ packets (1 oz) | 2 packets (1 oz) |
| Hard taco shells | 4 shells | 8 shells | 12 shells | 16 shells |
| Shredded cheese (Mexican blend) | ½ cup | 1 cup | 1½ cups | 2 cups |
| Lettuce | ¼ head | ¼ head | ½ head | ½ head |
| Tomato | ¼ each | ½ each | ¾ each | 1 each |
| Sour cream | 2 tbsp | ¼ cup | 6 tbsp | ½ cup |
| Salsa | 2 tbsp | ¼ cup | 6 tbsp | ½ cup |
| Refried beans (canned) | about ¼ of a 16 oz can | about ½ of a 16 oz can | about ¾ of a 16 oz can | 1 can (16 oz) |
The amounts are rounded to what you can measure at home. Pounds are rounded to the nearest quarter or third, cups to the marks on a measuring cup, and spoons to real measuring spoons. An egg stays whole. Because of the rounding, some amounts are the same at two sizes.
In DinnerCount, this recipe is sized to exactly who’s home tonight, whether that is a hungry teenager, a toddler, or a guest.
Open this recipe in DinnerCount for free
Forty recipes are free to read and cook, sized to your household. You don’t need an account or a card.
Steps
- Put the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook it for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. The beef is done when no pink remains and it reads 160°F on a thermometer. Tilt the skillet and spoon off the fat.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and the water. The ingredient list shows how much of the seasoning packet to use. The packet says how much water to add, which is about ¾ cup for a whole packet and less for part of one. Turn the heat down to low and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice. The beef is ready when the liquid has thickened into a sauce that clings to the meat.
- Warm the refried beans in a small pot over low heat for about 3 minutes, stirring as they heat. They are ready when they are hot all the way through. Warm the taco shells in the oven, following the directions on the box.
- Shred the lettuce and chop the tomato. Set out the shells, beef, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and salsa so everyone can build their own tacos.
Good to Know
- Contains Milk, Wheat. This comes from the ingredient names, so it is not a complete list. The ingredient names do not show what is inside a jar, a mix, or a sauce, and formulas change. For an allergy or intolerance, read the package every time, and never decide from this line.
- 🌡 Ground beef: cook to 160°F at the thickest part, the USDA minimum for ground meat. A thermometer is the test, and color is not.
- 🌶 Mild heat from taco or fajita seasoning, salsa. For younger or sensitive eaters: Buy a mild packet, or use two thirds of it. Buy the mild jar, because the heat depends on the jar you buy.
